Thread: Survey: to keep going, or not?

So, yesterday I picked up, inter alia, this Wade & Butcher. I proceeded to remove the busted up scales, and gently begin taking off some of the years of neglect. Here's the question:

Should I keep going and get it cleaner?

Or,

Should I just buff it out and polish it as is?

So, what would you prefer, and why? Getting it cleaner would mean more hand sanding. I plan to finish it out with micarta scales with nickel silver pins/ss washers.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Personally, if the pitting is not too deep and you don't risk wiping out any stampings I hand sand her down to whatever final polish you want. If left as is and fitted with spanking new scales it might look a bit of a mismatch.

Bob

Thanks Bob! Here are a few more photos in the light this morning:

That looks nice. Is there actually pitting on that blade ? I can see there may be some around the pivot hole
but that shouldn't affect the stamp. If that were mine, I'd put some Mothers Mag polish on first and then
clean with my dremel and a wire wheel before starting with the wet'n'dry.
That's a nice, full blade you have there !!

Hmm... If I was cleaning it up for myself I would probably hit it with a little more sandpaper. Not saying you need to remove all signs of pitting, but maybe knock it back a bit. You can always give it a good polish and see what the end result is. It's easy to do a little bit more and a re-polish. BTW, really love the spine on that one.

My thoughts are if you are going for bling appeal then polish it to a high gloss, if you are going for this is truly an antique look, stop at or near where you are, but use more traditional scale material. I have not yet figured out how to get a new set of dark horn scales to look like they are old, but the experiments continue. I have figured out if you take them to a high gloss finish and then soak them for a couple of days in oven cleaner, you can chemically reduce the finish. It becomes a satin that looks closer to antique than anything else I have tried. I'm not sure that an old looking blade in a shiny set of micarta scales is going to look right.

JMHO, but if you start, you should finish...

Pun intended

With that much pitting you might want to start thinking Satin also..

Okay, I think I agree with you (but the voting is still open!) as an aside, how would you recommend a satin finish on this? [insert appropriate link to thread already covering this question]

Originally Posted by gssixgun

JMHO, but if you start, you should finish...

Pun intended

With that much pitting you might want to start thinking Satin also..

Originally Posted by RezDog

...I have not yet figured out how to get a new set of dark horn scales to look like they are old, but the experiments continue...

I think I have that one covered! Just leave them in your pants pocket and let them go into the washing machine, followed by the tumble drier. Causes a very 'distressed' look and a remarkable amount of bending.

It could be a hazardous process though - for instance it results in hair loss and severe contusions of the forehead as you pull your hair out and bang your head on the wall when you see what you have done.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I think I have that one covered! Just leave them in your pants pocket and let them go into the washing machine, followed by the tumble drier. Causes a very 'distressed' look and a remarkable amount of bending.

It could be a hazardous process though - for instance it results in hair loss and severe contusions of the forehead as you pull your hair out and bang your head on the wall when you see what you have done.

Regards,
Neil

Ah, I see you have been experimenting too. If you get any great success please feel free to share.